Karnataka reports 5 more Omicron variant cases; state tally 19

The state announced five more Omicron cases on Monday taking its tally to 19 in six districts. The government is clueless about the source of infection in 11 out of 19 cases, as only eight of them had international travel history. The oldest to contract Omicron was an 82-year-old man in Udupi. His 73-year-old wife has also contracted the variant.

The six districts that have so far reported Omicron cases are Bengaluru (8), Belagavi (1), Dakshina Kannada (6), Dharwad (1), Shivamogga (1) and Udupi (2). Out of 19 Omicron patients in the state, 11 have been discharged after the 10-day hospital isolation that is mandated for Omicron by the state.

District Health Officer of Udupi Dr Nagabhushan Udupa, told DH, “In case of the elderly couple, their 11-year-old granddaughter was tested because she wanted to start attending offline classes at school. She tested Covid positive. Her grandparents were tested as they were her contacts. But they also tested Covid positive for Omicron variant.

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From day 1 they have been in home isolation. They all have recovered and are doing fine.” The elderly couple’s samples were taken on November 11. They’re both fully vaccinated and at present show no Covid symptoms.

Dakshina Kannada district added one more Omicron case (a 19-year-old girl) to its nursing college cluster taking the district tally to 6. In all, 19 students have tested positive and two have been found infected with Omicron.

A total of 42 primary contacts and 293 secondary contacts of the two young women has been tested and all have tested negative.

The district is clueless on the source of infection in the nursing college students as they have not come in contact with any international passengers.

Dr Ashok H, Covid Nodal Officer, Dakshina Kannada, told DH, “From December 1, as many as 312 international passengers have arrived in Mangaluru. Of which, 115 have tested negative. Through Bengaluru airport, 259 transit passengers have arrived in Mangaluru airport. 53 of them have crossed day 8 of home quarantine. Those that belong to other districts and states are 39 in number.”

District Surveillance Officer Dr Jagadeesh said, “Only one has tested positive who came from Ghana to Dubai and then to Mangaluru. He is quarantined at Wenlock and his sample has been sent for genomic sequencing.”

Dharwad and Shivamogga districts have reported their first Omicron patients on Monday. The Dharwad patient, a 54-year-old woman, who tested positive on December 5, is currently healthy, relieved of symptoms and at home isolation. She is fully vaccinated and has no travel history or contact with an international traveller. Four of her primary and 133 secondary contacts have tested negative.

A 20-year-old college student from Bhadravati has tested Covid positive for Omicron variant. Her samples returned positive for Covid-19 on Dec 6. She is currently in her hostel and has recovered. Fully vaccinated, she has no travel history or contact with international travellers. When 218 of her contacts were tested, 26 positives were found. All samples have been sent for sequencing.

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